Azeri serviceman dies of “heart failure”

An Azerbaijani serviceman has died of “heart failure”, APA said today, citing the Ministry of Defense.

Akbar Aliyev was serving at a military unit in the autonomous region of Naxcivan, the Baku-based news service said, without giving further detail.

Another army soldier, Manaf Huseynov, 19, shot himself in the leg in a “breach of safety regulations”, according to local media. He was hospitalized.

The Military Prosecutor’s Office launched a criminal investigation.

More than 110 servicemen have committed suicide in the past decade, according to the non-governmental Doctrine military research group. 

Non-combat deaths in the army prompted mass demonstrations in Baku last year.

President Ilham Aliyev replaced his long-serving defense minister, Safar Abiyev, after the protests.   

ANN.Az